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Mt. Olive
Township Council Minutes
January 23, 2007
The Regular Public Meeting of the Mount Olive Township
Council was called to Order at 7:31 pm by Council President
Greenbaum with the Pledge of Allegiance.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & MOMENT OF REFLECTION for all
those who have and continue to protect our freedoms and
our way of life.
OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT ANNOUNCEMENT
According to the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice
of this meeting has been given to the Mount Olive Chronicle.
Notice has been posted at the Municipal Building, 204
Flanders-Drakestown Road, Mount Olive Township, New Jersey
and notices were sent to those requesting the same.
ROLL CALL Present: Mr. Buell, Mr. Biondi, Mr. Rattner,
Mrs. Labow,
Mr. Tepper, Mr. Greenbaum
Absent: Mr. Perkins
Also Present: David Scapicchio, Mayor; William Sohl,
Business Administrator;
John Dorsey, Township Attorney; Sherry Jenkins, CFO;
Michelle Masser, Deputy Clerk
Questions on Bill List?
President Greenbaum: Are there any questions on the Bill
List this evening that the Administration can answer later
on? Seeing none.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Nov. 28, 2006
Present: Mr. Buell, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Rattner, Mr. Biondi,
Mrs. Labow, Mr. Tepper, Mr. Greenbaum
Absent: Mr. Perkins
Jan. 2, 2007 Reorganization
Present: Mr. Tepper, Mr. Buell, Mr. Biondi, Mrs. Labow,
Mr. Rattner, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Greenbaum
Absent: None
Jan. 9, 2007 CS
Present: Mr. Buell, Mrs. Labow, Mr. Greenbaum, Mr. Rattner,
Mr. Perkins, Mr. Tepper
Absent: Mr. Biondi
President Greenbaum: We will move on to Approval of Minutes
of previous meetings. Mr. Tepper, do you want to move those
please?
Mr. Tepper: Yes, Mr. President. I move for approval of
the meeting Minutes from November 28, 2007, January 2,
2007 Reorganization and January 9, 2007 CS.
President Greenbaum: Is there a second?
Mr. Rattner: Second.
President Greenbaum: Is there any discussion, deletions,
additions, modifications? Seeing none, Roll Call.
ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously with the exception, Mr.
Biondi abstained on January 9, 2007
CORRESPONDENCE
LETTERS FROM RESIDENTS/ORGANIZATIONS
1. Information received January 8, 2007, from the Morris
County Chamber of Commerce regarding Breakfast with the
Mayor.
2. Letter received January 10, 2007, from the United States
Department of Agriculture regarding GIS mapping system.
3. Letter received January 18, 2007, from the Mount Olive
Police Unity Tour members regarding raising support for
the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington
D.C.
RESOLUTIONS/ORDINANCES/CORRESPONDENCE OTHER TOWNS
4. Resolution received January 18, 2007, from the Township
of Hanover regarding Elimination of Regional Contribution
Agreements.
MISCELLANEOUS
5. Spring 2007 Course Schedule received January 8, 2007,
from the Center for Government Services.
6. Invitation received January 12, 2007, from the Morris
County Chamber of Commerce regarding 86th Annual Meeting
Luncheon.
7. Letter received January 16, 2007, from Hatch, Mott,
MacDonald regarding the Grace Period Law Oversight Rule
for USTs and site remediation.
8. E-mail received January 18, 2007, from the Heritage
Conservancy regarding Low-Impact Development Training for
Municipal Officials within the Musconetcong Watershed.
MUA / MSA
9. Minutes of the December 6, 2006, meeting of the Musconetcong
Sewerage Authority received January 16, 2007.
DOT/DEP/LOI/HIGHLANDS
10. Letter received December 21, 2006, from the State
of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection regarding
Notice of Technical Incompleteness for Cari, L.L.C. – Single
Family Home Lot 11.01, Block 2209. (18 Whippoorwill Road)
11. Letter received January 8, 2007, from the State of
New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection regarding
Agency Determination Highlands Act – Exempt, Water
Quality Management Plan – Consistent for Mount Olive
Community Bible Church Block 7900, Lot 3 (Flanders Drakestown
Road)
12. Letter received January 8, 2007, from the State of
New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection regarding
Deficiency Letter for Individual Permit Transition Area
Waiver and Letter of Interpretation – Line Verification
for Borough of Netcong Water Department Block 4300, Lot
18 (1 International Drive South)
13. Highlands Applicability and Water Quality Management
Plan Consistency Determination Application Form received
January 8, 2007, from New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection regarding Hackettstown Congregation of Jehovah’s
Witness, Inc. (16 Parkway Drive, Hackettstown)
14. Letter received January 8, 2007, from the State of
New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection regarding
Portable Well Water Analyses for White Brothers Tire Service
Center, Location: Block 108 Lot 5. (20 Route 46 West, Budd
Lake)
15. Letter received January 10, 2007, from Ferriero Engineering,
Inc. regarding Highlands Applicability Determination – Application
for Exemption Letter – Toys R Us – Site Improvements.
Applicant: Giraffe Properties, LLC Block 6600, Lot 1 (703
Bartley Chester Road)
16. Letter received January 12, 2007, from the State of
New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection regarding
Agency Determination: Highlands Act – Not Major Highlands
Development – Water Quality Management Plan – Consistent
for Williams Minor Subdivision Block 5002, Lot 10. (Flanders
Drakestown Road)
17. Letter received January 16, 2007, from the State of
New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection regarding
Notice of Technical Incompleteness for Mollo/Luongo Single
Family Home. Block 2514, Lot 2. (53 Pine Grove Street)
18. Letter received January 16, 2007, from Morris County
Mosquito Extermination Commission regarding facts for adult
mosquito control products.
19. Letter received January 16, 2007, from the State of
New Jersey, Department of Transportation regarding recommended
speed limit changes along Route 206.
20. Letter received January 16, 2007, from NJ Transit
Corporation regarding 2007 request for financial assistance.
21. Letter received January 18, 2007, from Princeton Hydro
regarding Site Access Consent Letter for General Permit
18, Project Name: Greundyke Dam Removal and Restoration.
Block 8500, Lot 21 (2 Route 46)
UTILITIES
22. Fax received January 10, 2007, from Comcast regarding
Hiring Announcement.
LEGISLATIVE REPRESENATIVES
23. E-mail received January 5, 2007, from Congressman
Frelinghuysen regarding Frelinghuysen sworn in, Introduces
Legislation to Make NJ Safer, PAYGO: License to tax and
spend, and House approves Additional Rules.
24. E-mail received January 12, 2007, from Congressman
Frelinghuysen regarding Statement on Iraq Policy, Major
Appropriations Committee Appointments, 9/11 Reform Bill,
and Minimum Wage Increased.
TORT
25. Tort Claim received January 16, 2007, from Glenn A.
Montgomery regarding Marilyn Ryan.
President Greenbaum: There are 25 pieces of Correspondence.
Does anyone wish to discuss any particular piece of Correspondence?
Seeing none.
ORDINANCE FOR PUBLIC HEARING - None
ORDINANCES FOR FIRST READING - None
CONSENT RESOLUTIONS AGENDA:
Resolutions on the Consent Agenda List are considered
to be routine and non-controversial by the Township Council
and will be approved by one motion (one vote). There will
be no separate discussion or debate on each of these resolutions
except for the possibility of brief clarifying statements
that may be offered. If one or more Council member requests,
any individual resolution on the Consent Agenda may be
removed from the Consent Agenda List and acted on separately.
CONSENT RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township
of Mount Olive Authorizing the Submittal of a Community
Development Grant Application.
2. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township
of Mount Olive Supporting the Participation in the 2007
Fair Share Assessment with the Morris County Chapter’s
McARP.
3. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township
of Mount Olive Awarding a Contract to Absolute Fire Protection
for (1) CAFS Engine for Flanders Fire Company.
4. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township
of Mount Olive Commending Officer Michael Hahn on His Retirement
for the Mount Olive Township Police Department.
5. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township
of Mount Olive Concurring in the Recommendation of NJDOT
for Reduced Speed Limits Along Route US 206 from the Township’s
Boundary with Chester Township to the Township’s
Boundary with Roxbury Township.
6. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township
of Mount Olive Commemorating the Service and Now the Retirement
of Police Chief Edward Katona.
7. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of
Mount Olive Authorizing an Easement Agreement Between
the Township and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.
8. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township
of Mount Olive Authorizing a Professional Services Contract
with Golub Animal Hospital for Animal Control Purposes
for 2007.
9. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township
of Mount Olive Authorizing an Agreement to Demolish and
Remove a Barn on Charters Farm, Block 8300 Lots 3 & and
Block 900 Lot 1.
President Greenbaum: Does everyone see that we got an
additional piece of paper on Consent Resolution #9?
Mr. Biondi: That is for Charters Farm?
President Greenbaum: Charters Farm, the part that has
to be removed…
Mr. Biondi: Yes sir. It’s here.
President Greenbaum: The Resolution that we have in front
of us is going to be substituted for the one that was originally
in the packet. So with that, does anyone wish to have any
of the resolutions moved off the Consent Resolutions?
Mr. Tepper: Number four and number six.
Mrs. Masser: I’m sorry, number four…
Mr. Tepper: And number six.
President Greenbaum: Number four and number six.
Mr. Tepper: Yes.
Mr. Rattner: Number five.
President Greenbaum: Four, five and six. Mr. Buell, do
you want to move #1-3 and #7-9?
Mr. Buell: Thank you. I will move #1-3 and #7-9 of the
Consent Resolutions.
President Greenbaum: Is there a second?
Mr. Tepper: Second.
PUBLIC PORTION ON CONSENT RESOLUTIONS
COUNCIL COMMENTS ON CONSENT RESOLUTIONS
President Greenbaum: Moved and seconded. Is there anyone
from the public who wishes to be heard on any of the resolutions?
Seeing none, Roll Call. I’m sorry, any discussion
from Council? Roll Call.
ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously
RESOLUTIONS NON CONSENT
President Greenbaum: Resolution #4, Mr. Tepper do you
want to move that?
Mr. Tepper: I would like to move Resolution #4 and have
the Council recognize the service that Michael Hahn has
provided to the Township.
Mrs. Labow: Second.
PUBLIC PORTION ON INDIVIDUAL RESOLUTIONS
President Greenbaum: Moved and seconded. Is there anyone
from the public who wishes to be heard?
COUNCIL COMMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL RESOLUTIONS
President Greenbaum: Mr. Tepper, did you just want to
have that removed so that it could be individually introduced?
Mr. Tepper: That was solely the reason for removing it,
was that he could get the recognition rather than have
it just passed on consent.
President Greenbaum: Okay. Is there any further discussion?
Roll Call please.
ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously
President Greenbaum: Resolution #5. Mr. Rattner, do you
want to move that please?
Mr. Rattner: I move Resolution #5.
President Greenbaum: Is there a second?
Mr. Buell: Second.
President Greenbaum: Moved and seconded. Is there anyone
from the public who wishes to be heard?
Mr. Rattner: I am going to vote for this because anything
we can get to try to increase the safety on 206 and here
with the speed limit, it makes sense. I don’t know
how we got into this where everybody is arguing about what
the appropriate speed is. Right now 206, I think, is only
a little more than 4.2 miles in Mount Olive. If you look
at all the signs and speed limits between Route 24 and
Route 80 which is 7 miles, it goes up down, sideways and
everything else. The one thing that I still don’t
think makes any sense at all is that last part where we
are keeping the speed limit at 50 between 92, 17, 93, and
69. Now more than just my opinion and based on when I got
my driver’s license and the braking test, when they
gave you the braking distances, I think it makes sense
because of reaction time. In that same area there are yellow
suggested speed limit signs, you know for people that don’t
understand. You have the speed limit, you have how much
you can get away with but anybody…when you took your
driver’s test you had to remember, when you saw a
speed limit in the yellow sign, it was a suggestion. Going
in that area, that mile and half, if you’re going
north, there are two suggestions in that 92, 17, and 63,
69, those yellow signs that say 45 miles an hour. We know
it’s suggested. The speed limit is 50 right now.
The DOT determined that it’s suggested you should
do 45 and now we are just saying it should just be 50 because
those suggestions didn’t mean much and I think they
really did. If you are going south, it’s even more
than that. You have a couple of those warning signs that
say 45 but you also have truck speed limit 35. Now you
have two different speed limits for trucks and cars which
just on the surface doesn’t make any sense. As I
said, I want to get this in and at least lower the speed
limit to 40 miles an hour in downtown Flanders. For the
last 30 years that I have lived in town the DOT has suggested,
not required, suggested that the speed limit be less than
50 and now we are still fighting over should it be a 50
mile an hour speed limit. You know that on Drakedale Road
we had three accidents in one day all due to driver inattention,
most of the people saying because they didn’t see
the car stopped at the light and they couldn’t stop
in time. I really think any reduction in speed makes sense
and that is what this code is. These are the way the signs
are. We do have two warning signs in that area that say,
45 going north and we have three warning signs in that
mile and a half going south, two of them telling trucks
suggested to do 35 miles an hour because of the 5% grade
on the highway, so you have different speed limits. I don’t
think it makes sense but I will vote for this resolution
because it is at least a move in the right direction.
President Greenbaum: Any other Council comments? Roll
Call please.
ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously
President Greenbaum: We are up to Resolution #6. Mr. Tepper,
do you want to move it?
Mr. Tepper: Yes, I would like to move Resolution #6 and
I would like to have the Council acknowledge the length
of service and the quality of service that the Chief has
provided to the Township.
Mrs. Labow: Second.
President Greenbaum: Moved and seconded, anyone from the
public? Chief do you have anything you want to say? Is
there anyone else on Council that has anything they want
to say? These obviously will be presented at some other
time to these particular individuals. So act surprised
Chief, Roll Call please.
ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously
MOTIONS
President Greenbaum: The first Motion is:
1. Appointment of Jeffrey Stadelman to the Economic Development
Committee for a 3 year unexpired term expiring 12/31/08.
President Greenbaum: Mr. Biondi, would you like to move
that Motion?
Mr. Biondi: I would like to move that Motion for the Appointment
of Jeffrey Stadelman to the Economic Development Committee.
Mrs. Labow: Second.
President Greenbaum: Moved and seconded. Any discussion?
Roll Call please.
ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously
President Greenbaum: The next Motion is:
2. Appointment of Brian Siegelwax as the Chairman of the
Economic Development Committee.
President Greenbaum: Mrs. Labow, would you like to move
that?
Mrs. Labow: Yes, I would like to move the Appointment
of Brian Siegelwax as the Chairman of the Economic Development
Committee.
Mr. Rattner: Second.
President Greenbaum: Moved and seconded. Any discussion?
Roll Call please.
ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously
President Greenbaum: We are up to the Raffle Applications.
Mr. Rattner, do you want to move those please?
3. Approval of Raffle Application #2182 for the Parents
Club Mt. Olive High School; Raffle Application #2183 for
Sand Shore Home and School Partnership; and Raffle Application
#2184 & #2185 for the Chester PTO.
Mr. Rattner: I move Raffle Application #2182 for the Parents
Club Mt. Olive High School Raffle Application #2183 for
Sand Shore Home and School Partnership and Raffle Application
#2184 & #2185 for the Chester PTO.
President Greenbaum: Is there a second?
Mr. Buell: Second.
President Greenbaum: Moved and seconded. Any discussion?
Roll Call please.
ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously with the exception, Mrs.
Labow abstained on #2182
4. Bill List
President Greenbaum: Bill List. Mr. Rattner, do you want
to move it?
Mr. Rattner: Yes, I move the Bill List as submitted pages
#1-12.
President Greenbaum: Is there a second?
Mr. Buell: Second.
President Greenbaum: Any discussion? Roll Call please.
ROLL CALL: Passed Unanimously
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
President Greenbaum: We are up to Administrative Matters.
Anything Mayor? Anything Mr. Sohl?
Mr. Sohl: Just to note that the Highlands group meets
in this building on Thursday at 8:00am.
President Greenbaum: Okay, I don’t know that any
Councilmembers can make it to that. Colleen, are you going
to be here?
Mrs. Labow: Yes.
Mr. Rattner: I will try to make it too.
President Greenbaum: Okay, anything else?
OLD BUSINESS
President Greenbaum: Thank you. Any Old Business?
Mr. Rattner: Two things. There were two meetings this
week related to the development in the Highlands. On Monday
there was a meeting between Mount Olive, the Rockefeller
Group and the County Planning Board to discuss issues involving
the landfill sale and the development of the landfill.
The meeting went very well. We have complete support and
backing and there will be active support of the County
Planning Board on any issues that we have to have. That
was actually a request to them. It was actually a large
meeting. We got a lot done. I was there, Bill attended
representing the Administration, obviously, professionals
along with the Economic Development Corporation of Morris
County, the County Planning Board and, of course, the Rockefeller
Group. So that went very well and that’s moving ahead.
I mean there are a lot of hurdles to be able to overcome
but we got most of exactly what we have to do and also
some encouragement that it actually can be done, so that
was good. Today, I had a meeting with the executive staff
of the Highlands Council themselves, Dante Dipirro the
Executive Director, Steve Balzano, the Director of Science
and Planning and Thomas Borden, the Deputy Executive Director.
Attending from Mount Olive, was myself and Chuck McGoarty
and Catherine Natafalusy. This was not to discuss any individual
things or get any acceptance. It was just to find out if
the route we are traveling, looking at the Highlands, how
we can effect changes, how we can correct the information
that is included in the report. I think overall… I
know Chuck, Catherine and I came away very happy. They
are willing to listen as long as we can support different
things that we want to do. We are not talking about wholesale
changes but things that will make it easier and make it
easier on Mount Olive. They are willing to listen. They
also wanted to know because we went with a couple different
areas where we think that they just mis-mapped something,
they also used older maps, where there is disturbed property
that we think should be developed because of disturbance,
they didn’t have it as disturbance. It’s not
as bad as what they did to Dover where they had their landfill
as a park with endangered species. That is where Federal
Express is going in. That meeting, I think, went very very
well. Not that we think we are anywhere there now, but
at least we have people that are listening and we started
a dialog. So we are moving in that direction.
President Greenbaum: Colleen, you have some Old Business?
Mrs. Labow: I would consider it Old Business but probably
I really should have said it under New Business. We all
received email communications from Mr. and Mrs. Duarte
on 17 Chamberlain Lane, a situation where the people had
purchased an older home, they demolished it and built a
new home and now they can’t move in because they
are told that due to COAH obligations they have to pay
a $3,000 to $4,000 COAH fee. Chuck McGoarty had visited
this issue a couple months back. I think we are waiting
to take formal action on that until we get our final plan
on the COAH. In the interim I received an email today from
this gentleman asking if they could possibly get a temporary
CO until this issue is resolved. It is my understanding
from talking to Catherine… I think Bill could help
me out, that we are going to try and take the position
where if someone demolishes a house and builds a new one,
they are not in fact creating a new COAH obligation. Do
we have to check with the State and find out if we can
pass a resolution to give them a temporary CO until this
issue is resolved, so they can get in their home?
President Greenbaum: Mr. Dorsey, is Council able to take
such action?
Mr. Dorsey: It will create an enormous problem if you
were to create a temporary CO and then revoke it. I thought
the answer in these cases were that we were permitting
people to move forward if they deposited their COAH obligation
on a protest basis and then have a week to file the determination.
I mean it’s very simple. Let them put the money in
escrow and it not be fully retained until such time a decision
is made.
President Greenbaum: Mayor?
Mayor Scapicchio: Council President, Bill Sohl has been
handling this. He has been in contact with all the Councilmembers
and I believe he has the situation under control and I
will pass it on to Bill for any further comments.
Mr. Sohl: Correct me if I am wrong, each of you have a
memo from….
President Greenbaum: We do have it.
Mrs. Labow: When did we get that in today’s…
Mr. Sohl: That was handed to Lisa last week.
Mr. Rattner: That was last week, after we got the correspondence.
Mr. Sohl: Let me just address what is being asked for
now, it is not what originally triggered this investigation.
Let me say where we are at right now. Chuck McGoarty and
I discussed the matter as did Catherine. I discussed it
with Mr. Dorsey and the issue comes down to one of…we
are collecting fees for somebody that demolishes a home
and puts a new one up. Chuck McGoarty spoke to COAH on
Friday of last week and they don’t have a problem
with us changing and creating an exemption and, in fact,
adding a retroactive aspect to that exemption. Creating
an escrow account just for this means you have to open
up with a W-9…I discussed this with Sherry, its far
better if you collect the fee and refund it assuming the
Council is willing to go along with those changes. We are
in the process of getting those changes drafted.
President Greenbaum: Okay, we will wait and see what comes
from the Administration. Until then the process is you
have to pay the fee if you want to get the CO.
Mrs. Labow: They will have to go ahead and pay it and
then…
President Greenbaum: Yes, and then…
Mrs. Labow: I think that is their issue, I don’t
think they have that kind of money to….
President Greenbaum: I understand that.
Mayor Scapicchio: Unfortunately Colleen, we don’t
have the discretion at this point to do anything other
than…
Mr. Dorsey: Give me the list of properties Bill, and the
addresses. I will try and do an ordinance for you next
week.
President Greenbaum: Very good. Any other Old Business?
NEW BUSINESS
President Greenbaum: Any New Business?
Mr. Buell: Yes, I attended Erie Lackawanna Cutoff restoration
project today representing the town. I did provide testimony
or a sworn statement to them indicating that we are in
accordance with doing this and encourage this project to
go ahead. I also used the opportunity to testify to the
Department of Transportation that we would also like to
see the electrification of the rail line from Hackettstown
to Dover. Whether that…if this is the wrong group
of people, at least I got the word in. Anybody else that
wants to submit comments to the Department of Transportation
on this issue, I have the forms and if they want to fill
them out and send them in, for whatever its worth, they
will process them and at least they will be recorded.
President Greenbaum: Very good. Perhaps we could get something
from the Administration in furtherance of this. I think
we already saw something but if not, maybe Dave, the Administration
could submit something in favor of this proposition, for
the electrification.
Mr. Dorsey: We didn’t do a resolution on that.
President Greenbaum: I thought we did do a resolution…
Mayor Scapicchio: We did a resolution and I actually have
a meeting scheduled for Friday morning with George Warrington
who is the executive director of New Jersey Transit, typically,
to talk about the electrification of the rail from Hackettstown
to Dover.
President Greenbaum: Very good. Any other New Business?
LEGAL MATTERS
President Greenbaum: Any Legal Matters?
Mr. Dorsey: Only that I am anticipating having three checks
in connection with the Muelbauer House within two weeks.
President Greenbaum: Very good.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Recreation Liaison Report
Mr. Biondi: There was no meeting and the Winter Festival
was cancelled last week. Supposedly it is going to happen
this week. I don’t know if it is going to make it,
I think it may just be too cold. Other than that…
Mr. Rattner: Last year it was snow…
Mr. Biondi: It is supposed to be 20 degrees. People aren’t
going to come out in 20 degrees. I don’t think anyway.
Other than that there was no activity with the Recreation
Department.
Board of Health Report
Mrs. Labow: Yes, we had a very productive meeting Wednesday
night. We talked about the stacking ordinance and where
we want to go with that. We do have to gather some data
to see what type of implementation it would take. So as
a result of that discussion, our Attorney Peter King, Frank
Wilpert and myself have a meeting Friday February 2, 2007,
with the Councilwoman from Parsippany who introduced the
stacking ordinance in Parsippany and we will get back to
you on that. Basically, it was just our reorganization
meeting and standard January type of things.
Planning Board Report
Mr. Tepper: Yes, the Planning Board held two meetings
since we last met officially. We had a reorganization meeting.
Joe Fleischner was named the Chair and Ralph DeFranzo was
the Vice Chair. Schoor DePalma was named the Engineer and
Roger Thomas was renamed as Attorney. At the last meeting
there were two developments that had asked for extensions.
One was Morris Chase, the other was Rezamir and they both
were continued to future meetings.
Board of Adjustment Liaison Report
Mr. Perkins: None
Open Space Committee Report
Mrs. Labow: We meet…I already discussed it on the
last one. We have a meeting in February… is our next
meeting.
President Greenbaum: Okay. My understanding is that we
are going to have a short executive session this evening
on Open Space issues. That has been requested by Kathy
Murphy. She has indicated to me that it will last no more
than five minutes. So we will deal with that at the end
of the meeting. Mr. Biondi, anything on the Legislative
Committee Report?
Legislative Committee Report
Mr. Biondi: Other than the fact that the DOT finally acquiesced
to the changes that were made by Chief Katona and Scott
VanNess for the 206 speed limits. We also had a meeting
about a week ago, with the Chief, Officer Spitzer and Officer
VanNess in Guy Gregg’s office to discuss changes
in the timing of some traffic lights on 206 and also lane
painting ability over on Route 46.
President Greenbaum: So the record is clear. I know that
there was some discussion outside of the Council meeting,
that certain people said that the Council takes action
on speed and safety issues without discussing it and getting
agreement from the Police Department.
Mr. Biondi: That is absolutely untrue.
President Greenbaum: I can tell you that in the timeframe
that I have sat up here, and I am sure it goes a lot further
back than that, on any issue having to do with the change
of a speed limit or a safety issue which affects either
the Police Department or the Fire and Rescue Squads, we
always ask for their input and we generally, if not always,
concur with those decisions. I am sure Chief Katona you
would agree with that. If you would, state your name and
position for the record please.
Mr. Rattner: At least for this month.
Chief Katona: The next seven days.
Mayor Scapicchio: Ed, you got it counted by hours.
Ed Katona, Chief of Police: I would just like to say,
at any time that the Police Department has brought an issue
of safety before this Council, the Council has always been
receptive of those and have always cooperated in the implementation
of those ideas. In this most recent issue, I am not clear
how the media picked up that there was some type of action
by the Council without the representation of the Police
Department or vice versa. There certainly was…I’ll
say an Administrative mix up. It’s a matter of doing
business. We always put issues together and make corrections
as we find errors. That’s not unusual. This was a
simple omission and for some reason unknown to me someone
took it to the press and said that there was a huge rift
and I would like to say for the record that this truly
couldn’t be further from the truth.
President Greenbaum: I would just like to say for the
record that I appreciate you coming up here to set the
record straight and I think I speak for the entire Council
and the Administration to say, obviously, other than Mr.
Rattner who perhaps knows more about everything than anybody
else, we rely upon, obviously, the educational background
and the experience of the Police Department in making the
decisions that we do that relate to the Police Department.
Chief Katona: I have to add to that, that we can’t
do it alone. The assistance that Mr. Biondi has brought
forward in the last couple of months is really invaluable.
President Greenbaum: Yes, now if we can get a light at
Connelly Avenue, boy we will call that a home run. The
one thing that I do want to comment on, I think that Mr.
Rattner actually has a quicker response time to emergency
calls than do the Fire, Rescue and Police Department.
Chief Katona: Yes, he is faster than anybody else. If
we could get him to be accurate, that would be okay.
President Greenbaum: That’s really asking for a
lot. Okay, up to the Board of Education. We’d fire
you Ed, but what’s the point?
Pride Committee Liaison Report
Mr. Perkins: None
Board of Education Liaison Report
Mr. Buell: Yes, we met last night, a fairly short meeting.
The only major things that they talked about that had any
real relationship to us, they talked about the Schoolhouse
Lane drainage problem again. They are now coming to the
conclusion that they are probably going to have to pipe
it into our pipes and get all the permissions that they
need to do that because it’s…the fixes that
they had tried so far are not working. The Board of Education
took note of your letter to them visa vis, the outsourcing.
They are having public hearings on their budget on February
8th to talk about the outsourcing issue and provide their
studies at that meeting about the budget. The only other
thing is that the Education Foundation or the Mount Olive
Education Foundation is selling raffle tickets for $50.00
a piece, anybody who is interested, Bill Robinson would
be more than willing to provide you with a ticket.
President Greenbaum: I note from reading in the paper,
that there were a number of resignations that the Board
accepted last night, one of which was the Principal at
the Sand Shore School and several of the teachers at the
Middle School and also the resignation of Jim Kramer as
football coach.
Mr. Buell: Yes, Jim Kramer, plus also the…
President Greenbaum: I guess he is going to remain on
as a Principal...Vice Principal.
Mr. Buell: Yes, the Visual Arts Director also resigned.
Lake/Environment Issues Committee
Mr. Rattner: Nothing to report.
Safety Committee Liaison
Mr. Perkins: None
Finance Committee Report
Mr. Rattner: Nothing. The budget was distributed and we
will be setting up a meeting or two before we have our
public hearing, so we can get their input.
Economic Development Committee Report
Mr. Rattner: We met last Saturday. Everybody showed up
except for one of the former members. It was a very productive
meeting. A lot of brand new ideas, a lot of new energy
and it will probably take all that the Mayor and the Business
Administrator can muscle together to hold them down, make
sure that they focus on what they want to do, but they
do have the energy. It’s a good mix and they really
want to get something done.
Solid Waste Advisory Committee Report
Mrs. Labow: We meet the 7th.
Library Board Liaison
Mr. Tepper: The Library Board met and went into closed
session to talk about some of their construction costs.
There will be a meeting later this week with members of
Council and Administration to go into details on that for
the follow up presentation at a Workshop with Council.
President Greenbaum: Okay very good. I have been hearing
very positive things about the direction that the Library
is going in at this point.
Mr. Buell: Yes, can I bring up one other issue that I
wanted to bring up and that’s the assessment on the
rollback for Toll Brothers. Has that been resolved?
President Greenbaum: No.
Mr. Sohl: Well, I mean it depends on what you mean by
resolved.
Mr. Buell: Well, do we follow Mr. Dorsey’s advice
I guess?
Mr. Sohl: No, we did not at this point.
Mr. Tepper: Should we?
Mr. Dorsey: Has Mr. Marchione issued the bill?
President Greenbaum: No.
Mr. Dorsey: Why not?
Mr. Buell: Should we discuss that? I think we should,
if our attorney says we should…
Mr. Dorsey: I don’t know that we should discuss
it in public.
Mr. Sohl: Nor do I. I agree with Mr. Dorsey.
President Greenbaum: I don’t think that it’s
a public discussion. We can put it on for a Workshop at
the next meeting in February. I don’t think that
is a discussion that we can have without having Jack present,
as to why it happens and I think that there is a reason
that it is being done in a particular way, although I am
not sure. Okay, having said that, what committee report
was that under or was that just a…
Mr. Buell: It was just…
President Greenbaum: Just an extra…
Mr. Biondi: That’s the ad hoc committee.
President Greenbaum: I will add a new category on the
end.
Mr. Biondi: Ad hoc Committee.
Mr. Tepper: That was under Council comments and he was
early.
President Greenbaum: We will just call it Buell matters.
Mr. Buell: Hey, there we are.
PUBLIC PORTION
President Greenbaum: At this point I will open it up to
anyone from the public who wishes to address Council on
any particular issue. Seeing none, I close it to the public.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
President Greenbaum: We are up to final comments. Sherry,
anything this evening? You sure? It’s nice to see
you down there.
Mayor Scapicchio: No thank you.
Mr. Sohl: No.
Mr. Tepper: No thank you.
Mr. Buell: No.
Mr. Biondi: Nothing.
Mrs. Labow: I just have a few matters…nothing.
Mr. Rattner: No.
Mr. Dorsey: No.
President Greenbaum: Lisa, anything?
Mrs. Masser: No.
President Greenbaum: We are going to go into a very short
executive session to discuss Open Space issues. Mr. Rattner,
do you want move us into executive session?
Mr. Rattner: According to section 7 & 8 of the Open
Public Meetings Act I move that we go into executive session
to discuss possible contract negotiations for Open Space.
Mrs. Labow: Second.
President Greenbaum: All in favor.
AYE
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to go into Open Session was made and seconded.
All in favor and none opposed, the meeting was adjourned
at 8:12 pm.
_________________________________
Robert J. Greenbaum, Council President
I, LISA M. LASHWAY, Township Clerk of the Township of Mount
Olive do hereby certify that the foregoing Minutes is
a true and correct copy of the Minutes approved at a
legally convened meeting of the Mount Olive Township
Council duly held on February 13, 2007.
____________________________ Lisa M. Lashway, Township
Clerk
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